My Travel blog

The World Bank has published a report on the state of world’s economies. The report (entitled 2005 International Comparison Program Preliminary Global Report Compares Size of Economies) compares data for the year of 2005 and includes statistics on 146 states. The report has also compared price level in different countries and identified the most and the least expensive countries on the basis of this calculation. If the price level makes up 100 points, it means that it is identical to that of the USA. If the price level exceeds 100 points, the country is more "expensive" than the USA. If it is less than 100 points, the country is less "expensive". The average statistical world’s price level makes up 81 points.

The top five of the most expensive countries for residence and business includes Iceland (154 points), Denmark, Switzerland, Norway and Ireland. The USA with its 100 points has occupied the 20th position in the world, yielding to France (115 points), Germany (111 points), Japan and Great Britain (118 points each).

Price level of Russia makes up 45 points, Kazakhstan - 43 points, Georgia - 41 points, Armenia - 39 points, Belarus - 36 points, Azerbaijan and Moldova - 35 points, Ukraine - 33 points, Latvia and Lithuania - 53 points each, Estonia - 62 points.

The cheapest life is in Tajikistan (24 points), Ethiopia, Gambia and Kyrgyzstan (28 points) and Bolivia. For comparison, Saudi Arabia has got 64 points, Egypt - 28 points, Venezuela - 55 points, Sweden - 124 points, Turkey - 64 points, Israel - 83 points, Czech - 60 points, India - 33 points, Iran - 30 points, China - 42 points.

Such ratings yearly influence the macroeconomy of many developing countries, because of the usage of this data in the preparation of risk analysis for the investments. Therefore the authorities of these countries are waiting for the results of these ratings and are even planning budgets depending on these positions.

Iuri Tarabanov writes about interesting travel experiences. His travel stories site is http://www.tripspirit.com

The Cayman Islands have positioned themselves as a leading world direction of the tourist diving for many years. However, today this niche is overfilled and continues to develop. Nowadays, the islands offer family vacation.

These islands are the only place of habitation of the famous blue iguanas considered among the oldest animals in the world. The local Botanical garden supports the program of preservation and protection of this specie of iguanas, the number of which, according to the conservationist organizations, is constantly decreasing. The best time for meeting iguanas is a sunny morning between 8.30 a.m. and 10.30 a.m. Iguanas of different size, skin and colour are basking in the morning sun in their cages.

In the "city of cramp-fish" shoals of cramp-fish, taught by the local fishers, gather in the shallow water and follow catamarans carrying the visitors. The guides who accompany tourists feed the animals with frozen fish, which makes them rather friendly. Adults and children can bathe together with cramp-fish. Tourists may closely approach the animals, take pictures of them and see the unusual mode of hunting of these sea creatures with their own eyes.

An educational family program, designed by Jean-Michel Cousteau (son of the famous scholar and researcher of the world ocean Jacques-Yves Cousteau), is carried out on the Big Cayman. It represents a part of the program carried out by the organization "Ocean Futures Society". It is aimed at raising awareness of mankind, primarily children, about the life of the world ocean.

There is a new complex on the beach of Boatswain. It includes specimen of the insular culture, a sea park and a turtle farm housing 16 thousands of sea turtles of different age: starting with curious palm-sized newborns up to adult clumsy species. Nowadays, the turtle farm situated on the Big Cayman is one of few places on our planet where you can hold this rare sea creature in your hands.

Besides, this island allows you not only to rest free of charge, but also earn some money if you find several coins of 16th or 18th century. There is a legend about "The wreck of ten sailing ships", and people really find golden coins from the Spanish galleons in the bay with the same name. Their treasures have not been found so far.

Iuri Tarabanov writes about interesting travel experiences. His travel guide site is http://www.tripspirit.com